Nebraska dentists preparing for new Dental Medicaid coordinator

The state’s new administrator of Dental Medicaid services is reaching out to dentists.

Beginning this week, Managed Care of North America is training dentists on the new system. The company takes over as the new benefits coordinator October 1.

Rocky Thompson is the interim director of the Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

He says changing to Managed Care should increase the number of providers available to Medicaid recipients.

“Managed Care has more flexibility and is able to provide services and determine what services are provided to our Medicaid members,” Thompson tells Nebraska Radio Network. “We anticipate, by doing this, there will be more providers who will participate in the Medicaid program.”

Thompson says about 500 dentist currently serve Medicaid patients, but he could not say how many more dentists will sign up.

Carmen Bachle, DHHS administrator for planned management says patients should not see too many changes.

“Aside from having a different name that they’re working with, their services are going to remain unchanged,” Bachle says. “There’s a potential for value-added services in the long-run, which would be a great benefit to them, but at this point in time, it should be a smooth transition for the members.”

DHHS names Managed Care of North America as the new coordinator in June.